I have been writing a post on the use of black patches, but with pictures and refrences it became much too long to post on LJ. But if you are interested in this small, but visible, beauty product, please go here:

Perhaps I can interest those of you who are interested in 18th century beauty with a little project of mine. I have had a special interest for the subject for many years and hold a lecture on it from time to time. But reading up on a subject is one thing; it is not quite the same as trying your hand on it. So I have slowly started to go through beauty recipes from the period, analyzing the ingredients and making those recipes that is possible to make. For example, white face paint was made by a number of different white pigments, with different result. It is also easy to see that not all 18th century beauty products were harmful. Apart from some very dangerous pigments made of lead and mercury, most ingredients are not only safe, but often used in modern cosmetics.

To change the colour of the hair with the help of powder wasn’t something invented inthe 18th century, but it was then it reached heights never seen before. The shiny fancy dress white wigs that many connect with the 18th century is an invention of the 19th century and when the silent movie came along, they adopted it. White wigs looks so much better in black and white than a real powdered hair would. Because a powdered hair doesn’t really look stark white. White powder on coloured hair gets various shades of grey.

katexxxxxx and I recently made a couple of Justeaucorps, inspired by Diderot, as sample garments. We used a quality upholstery brocade for one, and a lovely Navy wool doeskin with a great drape for the other. We are rather proud of them. We showed them off at an IC Fashion shoot at Maelstrom LARP. Thanks to the wonderful Al of www.rockphotography.co.uk for the action shot.

If you want to see more 18th Centruy eyecandy we did a big fashion shoot featuring various 18th Centuyry gowns, including my dress inspired by the Blue Madame De Pompadour dress on our website. We currently have one bespoke slot open before Xmas.

This is light-weight navy blue wool (sorry for the flash making everything too light), lining is natural white cotton, raw wool inside some parts for stiffening (for buttonholes, pockets etc.) Buttons are metal in the coat and breeches, for the waistcoat they are coated plastic ones. Button holes are all hand sewn. The inside seams are machine sewn, but over stitching is done by hand. Machine thread was polyester, but cotton for the buttonholes..

While ago - last year - I asked your advice for bumrolls... I am very grateful of your advice and hope you like the results :) Here's the reason why I needed one: Pineapple gown for 18th Century masquerade ball!

I've decided this may be the year that I finally go as the ghost of Marie Antoinette for Halloween. I'm starting to look around for a court gown pattern & know the people on here will have some leads. So far, the best-looking prospect I've found is the sacque gown from Reconstructing History with the sides expanded to fit the Royal Court Hoopskirts from Cinderella's Closet, which measure 45 inches across. I'm no great tailor, & I'll be going more for drama than for authenticity, so I consider the mainline patterns- Butterick's & Simplicity & such- but their patterns seem like they require more fiddling to expand to the proper hip width. Any tips?

I attended an 18th century masked ball yesterday and had had great fun making a deer costume. Or rather, making a deer costume in a way than an 18th century lady may have done it. I must confess that I'm quite pleased with the result.

Hello everyone!After a stint in the land of Regency I have returned with a new Project.I am making a gown out of a striped 20% cotton % 80 Linen blend. I made the petticoats already and last night I got a really strong urge to work on the gown. I did a lot of the pattern alterations (I am reusing my jp polonaise pattern) and cut out everything but the skirt and sleeves. Right now I am really undecided on sleeves, but thankfully I can do that last. A bigger problem, and something I have to decide before I progress is the skirt. I know I want the back to be en fourreau, and the front to lace over a stomacher. I played with a few style options as well as lengths in some sketches under the ( CUTCollapse )

I am also about 1/4 done embroidering myself a pair of pockets:http://izodiea.livejournal.com/30383.htmlI finished all of the plants, french knots and started on the flowers. This was the first time I have ever made french knots, I find them frustrating...

Hello everyone! I am posting because I have decided to sell my calash that I made. I am also selling some fabric that I originally purchased for a gown I have decided not to make.

The Calash is made from Black silk dupioni, lined in off black louis vuitton print cotton. There are black satin ties that fasten around the neck, as well as a smaller satin ribbon for pulling the calash up and down. The neckband is padded and covered with satin for extra comport.The back features a pleated Bevolet (or curtian) and is decoratively gathered and accented with braided buttons with beaded details. I am asking $220+ shipping.

Summer is drawing to its close and I have had a very nice one, with lots of the 18th century. The Society of Gustafs Skål attended the Bellman weeks at Skansen in Stockholm and a market day at the gardens of Linné in Uppsala.

I am trying to opt for a soft, round - well almost balloon like - look for an 18th Century dress. Polonaise would most describe what I'm looking after.Something like this, only a bit more subtle, I would like to avoid that sharp "teatray" on the back to a more softer curve .I have made one bumroll (similar to this) but the outcome is bit too sharp, especially when I do have a bum on my own and the roll doesn't seem to sit right. Any tips on shaping the pattern?What would make a good filling?How could the rump be expanded to the sides too, or is that completely another thing? Pocket hoops are again too angular.

Or should I just forget about the rump and plaid incredible amount of fabric to the underskirt? Incredible amount of over-skirt fabric is out of question for my budget.

This is another robe a l'anglaise I made recently. I call it my peacock gown because it's made from a gorgeous blue/green silk taffeta. Although in the pictures the gown seems blue and the green shimmer is hard to see. I wore it to Schloss Linderhof on our recent holiday. Unfortunately the weather was really bad, but we managed to take some pictures anyway. At least I had the time to do my hair properly (the time I didn't have when wearing my hot pink anglaise, I had to settle for some curls that day).

Hello,We released some new sewing patterns over at Nehelenia Patterns that might be of interest to you:a cute 1790s jacket based on the popular KCI garment,

also the very much anticipated 1790s Redingote and an early Regency dress, based on the wardrobe of Queen Luise of Prussia (and available in a set with a cute pair of earrings, too) please click the pictures for more information!